A CHAPTER FOR MARRIED PEOPLE 541 



subsequent moment. In view of these facts, it is evi- 

 dent that at the very instant of conception the embry- 

 onic human being possesses all the right to life it ever 

 can possess. It is just as much an individual, a dis- 

 tinct human being, possessed of soul and body, as it 

 ever is, though in a very immature form. That con- 

 ception may take place during the reproductive act 

 cannot be denied. If, then, means are employed with 

 a view to prevent conception immediately after the 

 accomplishment of the act, or to suspend it at any 

 subsequent time, it would be done by destroying the 

 delicate product of the conception which had already 

 occurred, and which, as before observed, is as truly a 

 distinct individual as it can ever become,— certainly 

 as independent as at any time previous to birth. 



Is it immoral to take human life? Is it a sin to 

 kill a child! Is it a crime to strangle an infant at 

 birth? Is it a murderous act to destroy a half -formed 

 human being in its mother's womb? Wlio will dare 

 to answer. No, to one of these questions? Tnen who 

 can refuse assent to the plain truth that it is equally a 

 murder to deprive of life the most recent product of 

 the generative act? 



Wlio can number the myriads of murders that have 

 been perpetrated at this early period of existence? 

 Wlio can estimate the load of guilt that weighs upon 

 some human souls? "Who knows how many brilliant 

 lights have been thus early extinguished? how many 

 promising human plantlets thus ruthlessly destroyed 

 in the very act of germinating? It is to be hoped that 

 in the final account the extenuating influence of igno- 

 rance may weigh heavily in the scale of justice against 

 the damning testimony of these ''unconsidered mur- 

 ders. ' ' 



